Building construction



, 1936; A. F. BEMIS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1934 & W, 3 W195.

Aug. 11

Aug. 11,1936. A. F.'BEMIS 2,050,258

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 18, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 11, 1936. A. F. BEMIS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 18, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiweiziar erizis' Zeri F 0-. 4.. c. an. i

Aug. 11, 1936. BEMIS 2,050,258

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 18, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 days- Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION poration of Delaware Application July 18, 1934, Serial No. 735,810

7 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete forms and the method of erecting the same, and more particularly to forms of the type having face sheet portions formed of flexible or distortable sheet material. In general, the present invention affords improvements upon and further developments of the type of forms disclosed in my copending application No. 667,846, filed April 25, 1933, other developments of this type being disclosed in my copending application No. 735,809,

filed on even date herewith.

Heretofore concrete forms have commonly been provided with straight wall or face portions to support the poured concrete and oppose the hydraulic pressure thereof. Thus, for example, conventional forms have been provided with walls formed of boards or substantially rigid metal elements. In contrast to these arrangements the present invention affords a form having walls in the form of horizontal series of portions which are outwardly convex and formed of thin sheet material arranged so that the tensile strength of this material is elfective in withstanding the pressure of the poured concrete. While such sections may be formed of material such as heavy gauge metal which is substantially self-supporting, thin flexible sheet material is preferably employed and suitably supported by a framework and associated positioning elements. For this purpose, various kinds of flexible sheet material may be employed such as the fabric disclosed in the above identified applications, or metal sheets of very thin gauge may be provided for this purpose. Such sheets may be in the form of relatively narrow sections, extending vertically to a distance slightly greater than the height of the Wall to be poured. These metal sections .may have their margins connected to each other to afiord opposite walls or face sheet assemblies 40 upon opposite sides of the wall and these assemblies may be interconnected by suitable tension elements which in certain embodiments of the invention are also in the form of flexible sheet sections. When the latter are employed, the 45 sheet sections are assembled so that a series of vertically disposed cells is provided into which the concrete may be poured. When concrete is thus poured into a cell having walls of flexible sheet material, the walls tend to assume a substantially cylindrical form. Accordingly, the sheet sections may be so arranged that they have dimensions permitting them to assume a form corresponding to that afforded by a portion of the surface of a cylinder. 55 In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet sections may therefore be provided with positioning elements disposed vertically along the wall and secured to or suspended from the horizontal support of the framework so that a section between adjoining 5 positioning elements may normally tend to possess the natural curved form which will be imposed thereon by the pouring of cement into the corresponding cellular unit. Thus the present invention affords face sheet sections which are 10 capable of possessing a shape which permits the tensile strength of the sheet material to be employed effectively in supporting the poured concrete and in opposing the strains imposed by the hydrostatic pressure of the same. Accordingly, 15 the sheet material may possess or assume its natural shape under the pressure of the poured concrete without necessity for stretching or the imposition of unnecessarily high strains upon the bulged sheet sections. Further features of the 29 invention relate to arrangements of parts including tension elements, positioning elements, the framework and positioning parts associated with the base upon which the wall is being constructed, all of which may cooperate in facilitat- 25 ing the rapid and easy erection of a concrete form out of preshaped or precut parts.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken vertical sectional view of a form constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a portion of such a wall;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower part of such a form showing an optional type of construction;

Fig. 4 is a top view of a corner portion of a wall assembly of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the form being filled with cementitious material;

Fig. 5 is a broken isometric view of a portion of a form showing an optional type of tension element;

Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic plan views of assemblies of sheet sections which may be employed with forms of the type disclosed herein;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are isometric detail views of optional types of tension elements, showing the manner in which they may be associated with the face sheet sections;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of one type of positioning means associated with the base and the lower parts of the sheet sections;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic top view of a series units, the units first poured retaining substantially the same cylindricalshape as they previously possessed.

The sheets and 20- may be connected to each other and to the bars 22 in various ways. The sheet sections may be preformed and transported separately to the building site where they may be connected to each other by fitting their marginal portions within the bars 22 and securing these parts together either before or after the bars 22 have been secured to the horizontal support between clips 24. If desired, a few of the sheet sections may be secured to each other at the manufacturing establishment, various subassemblies of this type being interconnected when the face sheet assemblies are being mounted on the supporting framework. Thus as shown in Fig. 12 three sheet sections may be arranged to provide sheet assemblies of generally C-shaped cross section. The marginal flanges of two sections 20 may be disposed in engagement with the flanges of a similar intermediate section 20, the flanges being secured to each other by tack welding or the like. Such sub-assemblies may be preformed in the manufacturing plant and may be connected to each other in situ to provide a series of cellular units each of which may have the general form of a cylinder with one re-entrant side into which a section of the next unit bulges. When alternate units of such a form receive poured concrete the sheet section which defines the originally re-entrant side of the poured unit bulges outwardly so that the unit assumes a substantially cylindrical form such as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

Fig. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the arrangementof the sections at and adjoining a corner of the form. At the'inside of the corner it is evident that four marginal flanges of face sheet sections are secured to each other either directly by welding or by the provision of a suitable U- shaped rod such as a rod 22.

Fig. 7 diagrammatically illustrates an optional corner construction where a special sheet section 20 may extend diagonally between the inner and outer portions of the corner unit thus affording a tension element which provides reinforcement for this part of the assembly. When such a construction is employed concerete is preferably poured into the corner unit at each side of the element 20 at the same time so that the element maintains its flat planar shape as the concrete is poured. Obviously the margins of the element 20 may be secured to the flanges of the adjoining face sheet sections by welding or by employment of U-shaped bars 22 in the general manner already described.

The face sheet assemblies are preferably suspended from the top, the lower parts of the face sheet sections and of the bars may be spaced slightly from or may merely engage the footing 1. In order to aid in the positioning of the lower part of the face sheet sections, however, I may provide suitable means associated With the base or foot. Thus, for example, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, suitable cylindrical units or positioning parts 35.? of sheet metal may be located on the footing at intervals corresponding to the positioning of the fully cylindrical cellular units provided by the form. These positioning parts may be disposed in the concrete of the footing before the same has set. The parts 30 have diameters substantially as great as the inner diameter of a corresponding cylindrical cellular unit of the form so that the lower portions of the sheet sections 20 and 20 may be drawn about the surface of a part 30 when the flanges of the sheet sections are secured to bars 22.

Fig. 3 illustrates an optional form of positioning means which may be employed with a form of the type already described. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention a horizontal sill assembly including angles 5 and cross straps 6 may be provided, this assembly having the same general construction as the upper support of the form and having approximately the same dimensions so that the angles 5 are dis-' posed inwardly of the ends of bars 22. Cross straps 33 of metal may extend through slots in the upstanding legs of the angles l and the ends of thesev metal straps may be received within and secured to the lower ends of bars 22 as by rivets 23 Obviously the lower parts of the sheet secv tions 20 may be cut away as designated by nu-v meral 34 in Fig. 3, to accommodate the straps 33.

As shown in Fig. 5 a straight tension sheet 31 may be employed rather than the tension sheet 20 which isadapted to have a curved form after the concrete has been poured, such a tension sheet may be formed of a coarse wire mesh so that concrete may readily pass through its interstices. The edges of this sheet are received between the margins of the face sheets 2!! and are secured to the same and to the bar 22 by any suitable means such as welding. With this embodiment of the invention it is apparent that concrete may flow freely along the wall so that it is not necessary to pour alternate cellular units in the manner described, but rather concrete is gradually poured into the entire form.

Fig. 8 illustrates another arrangement of tension means in which a plurality of cross ties in the form of tie bolts may be employed rather than tension sheets. Cross ties of this type may be provided with relatively long threaded end portions and in such lengths that the ties may be used interchangeably in form assemblies dimensioned to permit the pouring of walls of different thicknesses. In this embodiment of the invention the marginal flanges 2| of the face sheets are received in U-shaped portions of a vertically disposed bar 41 so that a hook-like engagement is provided between the marginal flanges of the face sheet sections and the outer flanges of the strip 4?, the intermediate portion of the latter being provided with openings to receive the tie bolts 40.

Fig. 9 illustrates another arrangement of tension elements in which vertically disposed metal straps or bars 58, acting both as ties and spacers, are arranged between the adjoining faces of the flanges 2| of the face sheet sections. At vertically spaced intervals slots 5| are provided in the face sheet sections adjoining their flanges and tie straps 52 are inserted through the openings 5| to provide exposed end portions overlying the flanges 2!. The ends of the straps 52 are clamped against the flanges and the latter are held against the vertical rod 563 by clamping bolts 55. Obviously the upper end of the rod 56 may be connected to the supporting framework by any suitable clip such as that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 illustrates another arrangement of the 7 tie means whereby the marginal portions of face sheets 20 may be somewhat wider than in the previously described embodiments of the invention and are bent about reinforcing bars to substantially to enclose the latter. This arrangement of the margins of the face sheets and of 7 the bars may be provided in the manufacturing establishment and vertically spaced openings 6! may also be provided in the face sheets adjoining their marginal portions. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, tie wires 62 may extend through the face sheets adjoining the bars 66, the ends of the wires 62 being engaged and twisted as designated by numeral 65 to hold the wires in place and to press the bars 69 toward each other so that the margins of the sheets are clamped therebetween. Obviously the upper ends of the bars 60 may be connected to the supporting frame by suitable clips.

While forms of this character preferably are constructed with walls comprising thin, readily distortable sheet sections, and the cooperating frame may be effective in sustaining and supporting the walls, it is evident that heavier metal may be employed for all of the face sheet sections, so that the metal form may be substantially capable of supporting its own weight. Even with such an arrangement it is desirable, however, to afford a framework for positioning and accurately aligning the cellular units. In certain cases it may be desirable to preform the corner cells by welding the portions thereof together, including the outer face sheet portions and the connecting elements which may be in the forms of ties, imperforate metal sheets, or sheets of heavy wire screening.

As shown particularly in Fig. 4, a wall constructed in this manner may include a filling of concrete with the outer walls including their convexly or circularly outwardly bulged portions with intervening troughs between which the tie members or sheets extend. The covering sheets may remain upon the concrete serving to reinforce the latter, the bulged contour of the sheet sections affording additional structural strength. Furthermore this covering of sheet material may aid in insuring the water-resistant qualities of the resulting concrete wall. If desired, however, the face sheets may be disconnected from the wall and if they have been temporarily secured in place by detachable fastening means, such as bolts, they may be re-employed in the erection of successive walls.

It is evident that this invention affords an arrangement whereby a concrete form may be erected with very little framing and whereby face sheets of thin material may be arranged so that their tensile strength is effective notwithstanding their opposing the pressure of the poured concrete. Thus, a form of this type requires only a small amount of material and does not necessitate the shipping of a large bulk of material to the site. After the concrete has set, the horizontal supporting frame and cross pieces 3 may be removed for subsequent use in constructing another wall, while the uprights 2 and It: may remain in the poured concrete, the uprights 2 extending slightly above the top of the concrete, and being capable of connection to super-structure if desired. For example, the uprights 2 may be connected to similar uprights in a superposed wall that may be formed in a similar manner or the uprights 2 may be removed after certain cells are filled with concrete so that the form has received adequate stiffness to permit the maintenance of the horizontal supports in proper position. The face sheets 20, especially if formed of thin gauge metal, may remain in place upon the completed wall to afford a protective covering for the same and to enhance its water-repellant ability.

It is evident that the present invention involves the provision of a form that may have its opposite walls provided by the flexible sheets and that poured concrete is received between these form walls to provide the building wall.

I claim:

1. Concrete form comprising a framework including an upper horizontal support, spaced, generally vertical positioning elements suspended from the support, sections of flexible sheet material having their margins secured to the elements, said sections being capable of bulging outwardly between said elements under the pressure of poured concrete, said sections and elements affording opposite face sheet assemblies, said support providing openings through which concrete may be poured into the space between the face sheet assemblies, and tension sections of flexible sheet material having margins connected to the positioning elements of the opposite face sheet assemblies, said sections being arranged so that they may bulge under the pressure of poured concrete, whereby a form is provided which is separated by the tension sections into a series of cellular units so that when concrete is poured into alternate units they may assume a generally cylindrical form.

2. Concrete form comprising a framework ineluding an upper horizontal support, spaced positioning elements secured to the support, flexible sheet material extending between said elements and being capable of bulging outwardly therebetween under the pressure of poured concrete, said sections and elements affording opposite face sheet assemblies, tension members interconnecting the face sheet assemblies, a base to which the lower edges of the face sheets are juxtaposed, and positioning units secured on said base and shaped to engage the lower portions of the face sheets and to hold them bulged to the general shape that they will assume when the concrete is poured.

3. Concrete form comprising a base, a framework erected upon the baseand including an upper horizontal support, opposite face sheet as semblies including positioning bars suspended from the support, sections of flexible sheet material extending between the positioning elements, and tension sheets of foraminous sheet material extending between the face sheet sections, said support providing openings through which concrete may be poured into the space between the face sheet sections, the tension sheets being capable of permitting the ready flow of poured concrete through their respective interstices.

4. A concrete form comprising a base defining the corner of a wall, a framework including a horizontal support disposed above the base and having a corner portion above the corner provided by the base, inner and outer face sheet assemblies including positioning bars suspended from the support, and flexible face sheet sections extending between said elements, said sections being dimensioned so that they may bulge outwardly under the pressure of poured concrete, tension elements extending between the inner and outer face sheet assemblies, one of said bars being located adjoining the inner corner of the support and another of said bars being located adjoining the outer corner of the support, and a diagonal tension sheet extending between said bars.

5. Concrete form comprising a framework including a horizontal support through which concrete may be poured, a form assembly suspended from the framework, said assembly including opposite face sheet portions, tension elements therebetween and positioning means to hold the upper portions of the sheets suspended from the support, parts of the sheets between the positioning means being normally bulged outwardly so that when concrete is received by the form the sheets may readily oppose the pressure of the poured concrete due to their tensile strength.

6. Structure of the class described comprising two walls extending along opposite sides of a space for cementitious material, at least one of the walls comprising a horizontal series of portions which are outwardly convex in cross-section with intermediate troughs extending vertically, and sheets interconnecting the two walls at said troughs, flanges upon the sheet metal portions engaging the edges of said sheets, and vertical rods each having a U-shaped cross-section retaining the flanges in engagement with said edges.

7. Concrete form comprising a frame including an upper horizontal portion, positioning elements secured to said portions, opposite face sheet sections connected to said elements at points substantially defining the corners of adjoining similar squares, and tension sheets extending between the face sheet sections adjoining said points of connection, said sections and sheets each having a horizontal dimension substantially equal to one quarter of the circumference of a circle circumscribed about the corresponding square, successive cellular units being defined by opposite sections and the tension sheets extending therebetween, so that concrete may be poured into alternate cellular units to cause them to assume cylindrical form with a diameter corresponding to that of said circle, and thereafter concrete may be poured into the intervening units so that their face sheet sections are bulged into similar form, thus affording a wall with successive cylindrically formed face sections, the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the wall being substantially equal to the diameter of the circle, its minimum cross-sectional dimension being substantially equal to the length of a side of the square.

ALBERT F. BEMIS. 

